Maryland lost more than 60% of its hives last year, each hive containing up to 20,000 honeybees, making it one of the states with the highest recorded decline. This is higher than the national average of 42.1% bee populations decline. While states across the country have been seeing losses with the ongoing tragedy of Colony Collapse Disorder, people continue to use the very pesticides that are killing off crucial bee populations.

The loss of bee populations could prove to have a detrimental effect on our world’s food production. If we lose bees and other pollinators, our world could be at risk of collapsing, losing over one-third of our food supply.

Neonicotinoids are a potent class of systemic pesticides that were introduced to agriculture in the 1990s. In recent years, these pesticides have been made available to consumers. With the increasing consumer use of these products, beekeepers have noticed an increase in bee deaths. Neonic products include Knockout Ready-to-Use Grub Killer, Ortho Bug B Gon, and All-In-One Rose & Flower Care.

Although the USDA has failed to declare a link between bee deaths and neonics, the EPA is reviewing the link between varieties of insecticide and Colony Collapse Disorder. Its findings will not be released in 2018.

A large global team of independent scientists created a task force that reviewed 1,121 independent studies, and their findings concluded that neonics play a major role in bee population declines. Due to their findings, the team said in their report that neonics should most definitely be restricted.

The Maryland legislation, also known as the Pollinator Protection Act, was passed in both the state’s upper and lower chambers. It is now ready to be signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan. The law is set to go into effect sometime in 2018.

Although there have been other states that have tried to curb the use of neonics through law, no other legislation has made it this far. Yet, a growing list of individual cities and jurisdictions such as Portland and Eugene in Oregon, Seattle and Spokane in Washington, and many more have banned neonics. Maryland is the first place to completely ban the substance on a state level.

The bipartisan legislation would ban the use of neonicotinoids from everyday consumers who spray their home gardens and trees with these deadly pesticides. Farmers and professional gardeners would be exempt from the law.

Del. Anne Healey who authored the House version of the bill believes that the passing of this law will be a landmark that could potentially set a standard that other states could follow.

In recent years a number of big companies and retailers including Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Whole Foods have made efforts to eliminate any bee-killing pesticides from their stores. France is also moving towards a total ban on bee-harming neonics.

The state department is concerned that the $200,000 allocated in the House bill to implement and enforce the law will not be enough. It will most likely cost more than $1 million a year. Maryland’s amateur gardeners will still have the ability to buy the banned pesticides from out of state or on the internet making the enforcement all the more difficult. This is why it is important to spread awareness about the deadliness of these pesticides.

Although this piece of legislation may be but a small step in the right direction, it is evidence that legislative change can be made. With the growing awareness of the importance of bees, people are beginning to realize that they must take action against these corporate giants. With little help from the USDA, lawmakers and citizens alike must come together to help save the bees and ban nasty chemicals with deadly potentials.

Ariana Marisolis a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She is currently finishing her last year at The Evergreen State College getting her undergraduate degree in Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.